This is a refreshing way to spend your time listening to some of the best interviews from the show. I like the show but sometimes don't have time to catch it on NPR. This audio set gives me lots of the memorable interviews I've heard or partially heard over the years. It's a great collection of some of the folks who are major influences in their work. The inquisitive and probing questions of Terry Gross really open up conversations with the likes of Tracy Ullman and Dennis Franz, they sound like us. These are wonderful snippets of real life.

This book was the text for an introductory course on human biology I recently took. The book is ideally suited for this purpose due to the following strengths: the writing is clear and concise, the content is interesting, the level of detail offers meaningful depth without being overwhelming, practical information about personal health issues and diseases is interspersed throughout, and the graphics are excellent. Outside of the classroom, I anticipate that many people would find the book suitable and enjoyable for self-study. I suggest buying the hardcover version because the paperback is somewhat flimsy.

This book is an outstanding analysis of "reading and writing nature" in the works of four great American poets. I found the book specific and compelling. It helped clarify for me the problems of perception and cognition as they have been analyzed, written about and lived by American poets. It enhanced my own experience of and appreciation for these writers. The book also opens a door onto the larger dimensions of nature that can become locked or occluded through disuse. I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in the relationship between art, nature and the imagination.

Reclaiming the Native Home of Hope delivers a top-notch set of essays and case studies on western ecosystems, species re-introduction, land management, and conservation. The majority of the setting is focused on the Utah wilderness with other stories spiraling out to the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau areas.

The essays challenge the traditional thinking about the best uses for these remote and relatively unpopulated areas (e.g., mining and ranching) and bring the natural qualities to the top of the list. The book's arguments to preserve ecosystems of the west are balanced with constructive thoughts on ways to preserve jobs and private land.

Stephen Trimble sums up the motivation for spending time in open, natural spaces in an essay called "Letting Go of the Rim." The kind of story that would have left Wallace Stegner smiling.

This collection brings together the fifth, sixth, and seventh Spenser for Hire novels by Robert B. Parker, representing the early glory days when our hero was trying to figure out how to make things work with Susan Silverman and Hawk was always around to help do the good deeds. The key thing is that Parker refuses to fit into a restrictive formula at this point and that his books are perfectly suited for those who spend time reading as a way of enduring the commuter lifestyle.

"The Judas Goat" (178) offers some twists on our hero as he travels to Europe and needs the assistance of Hawk to do his good deeds as we learn that apparently Spenser cannot do everything by himself. Spenser is hired by a millionaire industrialist who was crippled in the terrorist bomb blast in a London restaurant that killed his wife and daughter. Hugh Dixon will pay Spenser $2,500 for each of the nine members of the gang, dead or alive. Spenser's plan is to go to London and find himself a "Judas goat," someone in the gang he can turn to get at the others. Of course, since this is a Spenser novel the case proves to be a lot more complicate. This is one of the fastest paced novels in the series and features a most efficient Spenser, which seems a strange comment given all the waiting he does in this novel. On the personal front his relationship with Susan is progressing nicely (apply appropriate adage involving distance). The final twist that takes our hero to Montreal is a bit over the top, but if you remember events from the summer of 1972 it is not so far-fetched.

In "Looking for Rachel Wallace" our hero is hired to protect the title character, a radical lesbian feminist who has been receiving death threats because of her latest book "Tyranny," which is about people in high places who discriminate against gay women. To no one's surprise Rachel Wallace does not take well to Spenser's sense of humor, the way he dresses, his chosen avocation--okay, she does not like ANYTHING about him. But she needs protection and he can carry on an intelligent argument, so there is some level of respect. Everybody is worried or at least wondering what Spenser thinks about lesbians and radical feminists, and there are several feisty conversations along such lines between the pair, but the actual subject under examination in this book turns out to be Spenser himself, although most of the insights come from Susan Silverman instead of the Rachel Wallace. There is a point where Spenser explains if anything happens to him, Hawk should take up the case. Susan points out she does not know how to contact him and Spenser assures her that if anything happens Hawk will show up and ask if she needs anything. Susan talks about the implicit code that binds Spenser, Hawk, Quirk, Healy, etc., and I suddenly realize that Spenser has been NETWORKING! The first half of "Looking for Rachel Wallace" deals Spenser trying to do his job until he offends the writer's political sensibilities and is dismissed. As you can tell from the title, the second half of the novel brings changes the nature of the case and even though he is no longer employed to care, of course he takes responsibility for everything that has happened. The most unique part of this novel is that Spenser makes some serious mistakes (I even spotted a key clue way before he did), so he is not as on top of his game as usual. You especially know this is true when Spenser gets beaten up in a fight and apologizes several times for what he says. More than any other novel to this point in the series, "Looking for Rachel Wallace" gets to the heart of the character, understandably knocking him off stride to reveal the true nature of the man.

With "Early Autum" we again find a new twist in a new Spenser adventure. This time our hero is hired by Patti Giacomin to find her son Paul, kidnapped by his father. Spenser finds Paul almost immediately and it quickly becomes clear that neither parent really cares about the boy, who is just a pawn in the wake of an ugly divorce. Paul needs someone to teach him, well, just about everything (except how to shrug; the kid does that really well in response to literally every question asked by Spenser throughout the entire book). "Early Autumn," a metaphor for a 15-year old kid who has to grow up really fast, finds Spenser talking more than any of the previous books, although at the end his detective skills will again come into play. A large chunk of the book is Spenser and Paul talking about a whole bunch of different topics. In doing so, Spenser explains his view of the world, a task usually left to Susan Silverman. There is also an unforgettable twist as Hawk lends a hand at a key moment.

Can you beginning with "A New Collection of Three Complete Novels" and pick up the Spenser for Hire series from there? Certainly. But there is something to be said for going back and doing this series from the beginning. Early on the point is more the cases, but as the series progresses it becomes more about the relationships. Not just the major ones with Susan, Hawk, and Paul, but also those with the growing supporting cast, which includes Rachel Wallace.

In this book, Spenser gets distracted, overlooks clues, even loses a fistfight. And I enjoyed it. Seldom in the series does our hero behave less than heroically (Spenser even makes reference to his outfit with the cape and the "S" on his chest). I liked this more humble, more human, more fallible Spenser. The character of Rachel is hard to warm up to at first (and I consider myself a feminist), yet I like that, too. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, even humorless feminist authors. And Susan actually adds something to this story. Her insights are valuable and move the action along. It helps to remind us every now and again why Spenser puts up with the often exasperating Dr. Silverman. In all, a wonderful read.

Spenser has a lobster dinner and is contracted to bodyguard a lesbian author, Rachel Wallace. Rachel has received death threats after writing an expose of discrimination in the workplace.

You have to remember this is '80 while reading it - Spenser makes several "questionable" comments, and her foes are definitely many and bigoted. Right from the start Spenser has to protect her, although their personalities clash. He tromps all over her while trying to "save her" because of course she can't take care of herself. Rachel fires him, and *poof* she's kidnapped.

Spenser finds a bigoted family with some deep conflicts. He traces through a KKK member, some loansharks, gets beaten up and drives in the snow in his 1968 Chevy Convertible. Lucky he didn't try it in Susan's MG. Spenser drinks Becks, Molsons and Asti Spumanti. Rachel, of course, is rescued in dramatic fashion. The book ends with her curled up in Spenser's apartment, holding his hand as she sleeps.

My Notes: Well, I suppose even now bigotry exists, maybe I fool myself that it's not as bad as the book makes it out to be. It was pretty nasty for a woman who was just writing books. Spenser, who later has a gay police officer friend, is seriously offensive himself a few times. But I suppose to have him "supporting" a lesbian activist in '80 was a reasonably strong move. He has at various times lobster, shrimp, and oysters, even though he claimed earlier to not like fish.

Susan pokes her head in for a scene and *poof* is gone - not much for a woman he swore eternal love to and couldn't live without only a short while ago. As much as Susan can generally be annoying, I like when she and Rachel talk, and Susan is gently helping the Rachel-Spenser interaction go more smoothly. Rachel says "Jeez does Spenser protect you?" and Susan replies "No, we protect each other, sort of how I'm looking out for him now." Rachel grudgingly admits this is true, and healthy.

Interestingly, Susan knows how to cook in this one - onions, peppers, mushrooms. She even makes ham sandwiches (with the ham from Millerton NY, hickory smoked, no nitrates). She must have forgotten soon thereafter. Susan's power is growing - in this story it says "Her interest in people was emanating. One could almost feel it." It won't be long before the perennial word, "Palpable" shows up!!

Spenser is definitely relaxing into his role in the world - I think (bigotry aside) this is the first book that he's really "comfortable with himself" in. He doesn't question his right to do things, he just does them. He punches the picketer. He jumps in when people try to drag her off. He does his job, period. Susan calls him a "Sir Gawain".

It's interesting to hear Rachel bashing Spenser all the time but admit in the end that she needed him to be what he was to rescue her. I wonder if this is a pre-emptive strike at those reviewers who criticize Spenser for being so "macho" - right in the book you have the arguments both ways. Very entertaining. Sadly, no Hawk at all in this one.

Aside from EARLY AUTUMN, there is no question that this is Parkers best novel. It's funny, fast, lots of action, and a big ending. I read all of Parkers Spenser novels in a row, twice, about six years ago, and I've gone back and re-read this one a few more times.
Parkers short 200 page books are like movies, as you can have a bad day, come home, have a few beers and plow through a book in one evening. This is the one that always lifts my spirits.

"From Neuron to brain" is a very good thorough text book, with a level that I would rate as a good MA or PhD class. Altough it is not as detailed as for example Candells book, it has two great advantages: It is concise, and quite readable. It definetely rates as a TEXT book that you can actually read, unlike some other books whose use in the end is often a REFERENCE guide, not a text to learn from.

Comprehensive introduction to the field of neurobiology. Good descriptions of molecular level experiments are provided. As well, a full chapter is devoted to an overview of the nervous systems of the leech and Aplysia.

I work in Public Health in Pakistan and have used this book as a reference a few times. Every issue is discussed in detail and the technical information is impressive but, it is focused mainly towards developing countries. It could become much more informative if regions where public health and preventive medicine are needed most were also covered.

The price is also steep.

I am doing my master in Public Health. I have searched so many books that will give me clear overview on Public Health. Then I found this book. I read most of the chapters. It is a great book. Not only it gives the general overview of the Public Health but most of the topics were discussed in great detail. If you can only afford to have one book for public health, then this is the book.

I found this book to be a bit of a disappointment. I suppose if you want an over-view of scientific thought on the brain, then this might be interesting. The Dalai Lama mostly asked questions and the scientists spoke about science. Only once did a scientist ask the Dalai Lama a point about Buddhism, and then it was only to set him up to be debunked. The scientists just can't accept any view point that is not materialist. They don't even understand other viewpoints except as superstition. So there is no real dialogue.

Actually, I didn't really expect a dialogue when I bought this. I was hoping for some clarity and insight into Buddhist thoughts on consciousness, using Western terminology. No such luck.

Gave it a few stars because everyone was intelligent and articulate.

This book explains in a very clear and accesible way what are the differents viewpoints between Neuroscience and the Bhuddist religion. It discusses how the mind is conformed, how it learns, and the way it reorganizes itself.

This book is a very important door for the future of the humanity.

First of all, what this book contains will not disappoint if you spent time on the core worlds. Most parties will eventually go there, and this book will help you as the GM make them come to life like you wouldn't believe.

Each planet is divided up into a player's and GM's section. The players section lists history, locations, and things of that ilk. The GM's section includes plot hooks and major NPCs. I think that more WotC books should implement this sort of organization, where a player can read through the book and not worry about accidentally spoiling something for him- or herself. The plots are interesting, and tend to involve whatever makes that planet unique (the shipyards of Corellia, for example). They are also divided along era lines, which is a worthwhile practice that should be continued in future WotC projects.

That said, the book does have a few flaws. First, the art, while good, is sparse. Each planet (Coruscant has the biggest section and is therefore an exception) has only one or two pieces, and they don't really give a suffient feel for the planet, leaving it up to the descriptions and the GM's knowledge. Second, the section on planetary histories is a little short for most worlds, usually constituting little more than a page. For some of the minor worlds (like Anaxes) this is permissable, but even Corellia and Coruscant are lacking in that regard.

In short, this book is worth getting (almost essential, in fact) if you plan on spending time in the Core, but not really if its a casual thing that you "might do someday." Its limited nature makes it less useful than, say, WotC's upcoming Ultimate Alien Anthology.

One of the most memorable things about Star Wars is in just how unique the worlds are, and that is definitely the case here. The worlds in this book have one thing in common: they are Core planets. Other than that, they are as different from each other as Hoth is from Tatooine.

This wonderfully illustrated hardcover book details no less than 29 Core worlds. Coruscant gets the most space at nearly 30 pages, and most of the other worlds, including Alderaan and Corellia, get three to five pages each. In general, each world has brief sections on its description, history, people, and important locations. Changes from the time of the Old Republic up to the New Jedi Order are also discussed.

At the end of each planet's profile there is a "GM-only" section for each world with adventure hooks and a selection of important NPCs. There are also several new species, six new feats, about a dozen items of new equipment, over a dozen new vehicles and starships, four new droids, and more new creatures than you can shake a stick at (my favorite was the fearsome Coromon Headhunter). Sadly, there is only one new Prestige Class, the five-level Seyugi Dervish.

While I really would have preferred to see a greater selection of PrCs, the book's other qualities largely make up for this deficiency. I should emphasize that while each planet receives a generous amount of information, it is by no means a complete description. The focus of the book seems to be on providing GM's and players with ideas for their own campaigns and characters, rather than on being an exhaustive resource.

As a GM I found the plot hooks and NPC sections to be the most useful. And boy, there are a lot of NPCs, over a hundred of them in fact. Even better is the fact that the plot hooks and NPCs are often connected to each other, which makes for easy adventure creation.

My main complaint regarding this otherwise excellent book is that some of the maps are a bit lacking. Specifically, many of them don't have a scale, which makes it difficult to tell if the map of this or that location covers hundreds of meters or dozens of kilometers. The maps are also far too small for tabletop use, but a trip to the copy shop should solve that problem.

As others have pointed out, a GM would probably get the most use out of this book, especially in a Core-based campaign. Of course, a player could still find this book to be a valuable tool for fleshing out the background of a favorite character. Even so, there is so much variety, information, and so many ideas in this book that I'd recommend it to anyone. Overall I'm giving Coruscant and the Core Worlds a very strong 4 out of 5.

And besides, what campaign could possibly be complete without the main characters visiting Coruscant at least once?

The collaborative effort of Craig R. Carey, Chris Doyle, Jason Fry, Paul Sudlow, John Terra, and Daniel Wallace, and specifically crafted to be compatible with the Dungeons and Dragons game's d20 system, Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Coruscant And The Core Worlds is an information-packed reference filled from cover to cover with memorable characters, exotic locations, vehicles, alien creatures, story ideas, and much, much more. Configured and organized so that even the most novice Game Master can create a memorable Star Wars-themed role gaming adventure, Coruscant And The Core Worlds is an excellent and faithful guide, and a very welcome addition to the growing library of Star Wars related role-play adventure resources and references.